Notes & Quotes: Whitecaps FC draw Sounders FC 0-0

NOTES

Vancouver remains in fifth place in the Western Conference with a 39 points from 31 matches, FC Dallas is in sixth with 37 points from 31 matches

Brad Knighton started his fourth consecutive match, earning his first shutout. Vancouver's first shutout since July 7

Andy O’Brien started his first match since August 25 at Portland Timbers

WHITECAPS FC – QUOTES

HEAD COACH MARTIN RENNIEThoughts on the match:
“It was a good game and obviously, an exciting game. There were a lot of goalmouth incidents, and overall throughout the game we played well. The atmosphere was fantastic, soccer is becoming so big in North America, it’s a privilege for us to be a part of it and I wish we could send our fans home with a little bit more excitement.”

On making two first half substitutions:
“It was difficult, but I thought the players that went on managed to find the rhythm of the game very quickly, which is sometimes hard to do. It just limited our opportunities to change the game in the second half with substitutions that we wanted to do, but the players that went on did very well.”

On the progress of the team:
“We defended well today, we look organized, and we gave up very few chances in the game. We possessed the ball well, we created good opportunities and we had a chance at the end to win the game, but I definitely saw progress and a lot to build on going forward.”

STRIKER KENNY MILLERThoughts on the match:
“It was a hard fought game. It was unfortunate for us at the end, but we’re happy with the result. You set out a game plan and go out to get three points, but when you have two injuries in the first 25-30 minutes, it does kind of change that. I thought Matt came in and was superb and obviously Camilo had the opportunity at the end for us.

DEFENDER ANDY O’BRIENThoughts on the match:
“From a defensive point of view, we kept a clean sheet which is obviously your objective before the game. I think we limited them to a few chances and we’re disappointed we didn’t score in the last few seconds, but that’s soccer. Now we move onto the game on Wednesday.”

Thoughts on the crowd:
“It was fantastic. Our supporters have been magnificent since I’ve been here and no doubt have played a massive part for the success of the club this season. We have another three games and we need that support as much as ever and hopefully we can repay their faith for coming to watch us.”

Thoughts on the clean sheet:
“I thought the performance was generally good. We competed very well. It wasn’t the prettiest spectacle at times, but I think you need to do that sometimes. It was just unfortunate we didn’t get the three points. I felt comfortable with Martin when I played with him and Jay today. I thought collectively we did very well. People will say we kept a clean sheet, but like I said before the game, our strikers are our first defenders and I thought they were superb as well.”

How he felt about his fitness:
“Stiff. The importance of these games will get you through that and you can’t make excuses. The adrenaline is what gets you through. We have three more games and the nitty gritty starts if we can get into the playoffs. There’s a lot of pressure and a lot of energy needed before the end of the season.”

DEFENDER JAY DEMERIT
Thoughts on the match:
“I think for us to get a clean sheet against a good Seattle team that scores a lot of goals is a major step for us in the right direction. Obviously, [there is] natural disappointment because we had chances to win the game, but they didn’t fall for us tonight and we have to keep on going.”

We keep looking for that something that will change it. We haven’t found it yet, but we have three games to do it. I think the games can’t come quick enough now. We’re starting to hit a bit of a form and playing a lot better soccer on the field and the fans have helped us also. We’re now looking forward to Wednesday. Three points is all we need.”

Thoughts on the defence and Andy O’Brien returning:
“I think what Andy brings is a wealth of experience and is someone who has been there and done it at the highest level for many years. When you combine that with someone who can communicates and is dependable, that means it’s a good partnership. I thought we did well tonight considering we’ve never played together other than the Portland game. I thought we communicated and played well together as a partnership and that’s a huge thing to build upon for Wednesday.”

Thoughts on the clean sheet:
“The clean sheet comes from the eleven, not just us four at the back. It’s a team effort. If you look at the guys, there were a lot of tired bodies out there today. That’s because we got behind the ball and did our work and we kept a good Seattle team scoreless. That’s the main thing, we have to keep going and now we have to go find the net.”

SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC – QUOTES

HEAD COACH SIGI SCHMIDOn making the playoffs:
“Obviously we’ve done a lot of work all season. So it’s great to finally have that officially secured, but our goal is still to get second place so we’re disappointed in not getting three points today. At the end of the game they had a fantastic chance with Camilo so we can be fortunate that we didn’t walk out down. We had some chances as well, the deflected shot by Zakuani could easily have gone in as well, we had a couple of other shots as well but Knighton came up with some saves.”

On the team’s first shutout in some time:
“I’m encouraged by the shutout. I think the quality of our crosses sometimes weren’t as good as they needed to be. We needed to get in a little deeper with our crosses, they would have been more effective. Also bringing guys back in like Mauro who missed a few weeks, it takes them a little bit of time to get rhythm but his effort was great and what he gave us was fantastic, and I thought in the first 45 minutes I thought we were very good, I thought we played very well for the opening 45.”

On the Whitecaps play today:
“They played a lot of good balls and they were able to win second balls and keep the pressure on. You expect that from a team when they are at home and they are battling for a spot in the playoffs.”

On the inability to score a goal:
“There’s not a lot that separates teams in this league. [The Whitecaps] put forth a very good defensive effort and there were a couple of times where we had chances throughout the game. We created chances; if we hadn’t created chances than I would be more concerned.”

MIDFIELDER MAURO ROSALESThoughts on the match:
“I think we had more possession of the game during the 90 minutes and it’s a pity that we couldn’t score and couldn’t take the three points. I’m disappointed for that, but we have to keep working. We know that we are in the playoffs with that point but it’s not enough, we came here for the three points. We hope in the next game we can win at home against Portland for our fans.

How he felt after coming back from injury:
“Very good, I felt very good with the minutes I played in the game. I really wanted to keep playing but I have to build a little bit more fitness for the next game.”

GOALKEEPER MICHAEL GSPURNINGThoughts on the match:
“I can’t say that both teams didn’t want to win this game, but in the end one point I think is fair for both teams. We reached the playoffs but we wanted three points today and we have to take the positive thing from it which was the shutout. Now we have to keep working towards next week for another important game.

What changed in the second half:
“In the first half we had more possession of the ball and we were the better team, in the second half it changed a little bit. It’s tough to say why it happened but in the end the draw is a fair result for this game.”

On next week’s Cascadia Cup match against Portland:
“We have to win, no excuses we all know this and all week we will be focused on this game on Sunday.”

On getting the shutout:
“Of course it’s a positive thing when you’re on the road and you have a shutout. That’s always positive and if you told us before that we will have the shutout, we would be sure of getting a result, but it didn’t happen today, so we have to accept this.”

On Camilo’s last second shot:
“I’m big enough, I just tried to be as big as possible. Of course there was a lot of luck that it didn’t go in.”

DEFENDER JEFF PARKEThoughts on the match:
“We came in here to get the three points so it’s a little bit disappointing. We didn’t give up any goals, we had our chances but we got the point we needed to get into the playoffs so that’s important. But we have some things that we have to work on, and we’ve got a couple more games leading up to the playoffs and hopefully we can get on a good run.”

On the shutout:
“As a group defensively it was a good game. We gave up a couple of chances, but at the end of the day we got the zero and it’s important that we run with this and hopefully use this as confidence going into the next game and going on a little bit of run. “We haven’t had a shutout in a while so that’s a good thing.”

On his shot that was cleared off the line:
“I knew it was going to get blocked. [Lee] was there on the post and I didn’t get enough on it. He was in a good spot and I could only get a little piece of it but I knew it was going to get blocked. It wasn’t really that hard of a shot. If I had my toe on it I might have had a better opportunity to score but he did a good job of putting himself in a good spot.”